Six senators from both sides of the aisle, led by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), have introduced a bill that would provide additional funds to the TV station repack fund in the event that the current $1.75 billion total proves to be insufficient.

The FCC has issued a new price list for the post-incentive auction TV and MVPD equipment for which it will potentially foot the bill, using the $1.75 billion relocation fund established by Congress.

Congress wants the repack schedule to remain unchanged as made evident by a letter from nearly five dozen members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, which was sent to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

The FCC will be doling out $1 billion to the nearly 1,000 TV stations that are required to move as part of the repack to cover initial expenses, per a public notice issued on Monday, Oct. 16.

Congress approved the additional funds to cover broadcaster transition costs last year.

The House Energy & Commerce Committee Wednesday (Feb. 14) will mark up a bill that will include a valentine to broadcasters (and potentially some cable operators)--more money for the post-incentive auction repack.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, along with commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Michael O’Rielly, told the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government that the commission can do more with less, referring to Pai’s proposed budget cuts.

Viewer Protection Act comes in wake of broadcasters’ estimates, Pai’s comments